Kobe hits Venice Beach to promote the Kobe 8

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant hit Venice Beach this weekend to promote the release of his newest shoe, the Kobe VIII.

Hoopsvibe’s quick call: While I prefer to wear high tops on the basketball court, I’d definitely rock the Kobe 8’s.

Bryant drew quite a crowd this past Saturday, when over 5,000 people gathered on the boardwalk in Venice Beach, California to attend a launch event for Kobe’s new shoe. Those who attended were invited to try the shoes on and maneuver through an obstacle course designed to highlight the performance of the cutting edge Nike Kobe 8 System. The top four performers in the course for both boys and girls then competed against each other for a pair of signed shoes, presented by the man himself.

At a weight of 9.6 ounces, the Kobe VIII becomes the lightest shoe in Nike’s history; (last year’s Kobe shoe weighed 13 ounces) and it features an engineered mesh upper (which will allow for a variety of unique colorways), Lunarlon midsole, and the tried and true herringbone rubber outsole – all of these elements contribute to the shoe’s light feel, durability, optimal traction and cushioning.

While the Kobe 8 will hit stores in the black/sulphur colorway on December 20th, it is currently available for customization on NikeID. The python colorway is set to be released sometime in February.